Perfect Summer Brunch Dessert: Apricot & Almond Crostata

Looking for a perfect summer dessert? Then you must make this Apricot & Almond Crostata.

Here's the back story: I flew to Seattle at the beginning of June to visit my family and friends and to celebrate my mother's birthday. Clearly I've known my parents my entire life, but there are certain things about them I will never understand. For example, when asked what she wanted for her birthday, my mom said nothing.

You see, if someone would have asked me, I would have been able to give a list of at least 10 things in different price categories. But maybe that's just me.

Although my brother decided my mom would love a brand new TV, which she did, and that's what we purchased for her with our dad's help, my twin Anna and I also decided to make a Sunday birthday brunch for our mom, dad, and my siblings' significant others.

The brunch menu included roasted potatoes, mozzarella/tomato/basil salad, smoked salmon, sliced avocado, English muffins and mimosas.

For dessert, Anna and I decided to make Almond, Apricot, and Cream Cheese Crostata from Epicurious.

Unfortunately, the store did not have the almond paste. So we had to improvise.

To make the almond paste, we ground almonds with some confectioner's sugar, and egg white and a bit of vanilla extract. We did not want to use the almond extract in case that would be too almond'y ;)

{The butter in the list to the left was for something else.}

To make the crostata, I unrolled the pie crust and realized it was completely broken into pieces. Luckily, I was able to glue it back together with the warmth of my hands.

We then combined the cream cheese with the almond paste and an egg yolk and spread the filling on top of the pie crust.

Next, Anna arranged the halved and pitted apricots into perfect concentric circles and we brushed the apricots with warmed up apricot jam.

The dessert baked for about 40 minutes in the oven.

{For more step by step photos, check out Snacking in the Kitchen.}

This was such a light and not overly sweet dessert. It held up well for a few days and was shared with a few friends who absolutely loved it. You can make the same with plums or nectarines or a combination of those fruit.

Most importantly, our mom loved the dessert and the brunch we made her and the TV!!! Good times was had by all ;)